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No. 625,290. Patentd may I6, I899.

J. E. CBOUK.

STAPLE LOCK.

(Application filed Oct. 27, 1896. Renewed Oct. 13, 1898.)

(No Hodei.)

m w s m: NDFRIS vzrzns co. PKOYu-LITNQ, WASMINGTON, o. c

H NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. OROOK, OF'KENOSHA, IVISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE'THIRD TO W. M. PUGII, OF SAME PLACE.

STA-PLE-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,290, dated May 16, 1899.

Application filed October 27, 1896. Renewed October 13, 1898. Serial No. 693,432. (No model.)

To all whom, it ntay concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES E. CROOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kenosha,

in the county of Kenosha and State of WViscousin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Staple-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in looks, and has for its object to provide a lock which may form a part of a staple or staple-stud, so that when the hasp is forced over said staple or stud it will automatically be locked in place, so that it may not again be removed without the proper manipulation of the lock mechanism to release the same.

IVith these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail,referrin g to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a staple-stud having a lock made in accordance with my improvement formed therewith or secured thereto; Fig. 2, an edge View of the same; Fig. 3, a perspective of such a lock, illustrating the manner of using the hasp in connection therewith; and Fig. 4, a detailed perspective of one ofthe locking-bolts,which automatically spring into place after the hasp has been pressed into position.

In carrying out my invention Iform a cas ing A with the stud B, or this casing may be secured to said stud, or, if desired, such a casing may be formed with a staple of any design. The casing may be either made hollow or it may be made in two parts, which latter may be secured in place by the rivets O and screw D or in any other convenient manner. IVithin the casing are pivoted the triangular wings or locking-bolts E, the rivets C, also serving as pivoted point-s, being passed through the tops of said wings or bolts, and these bolts project outward in their normal position beyond the sides of the casing, their outer edges being tangent to the top of said casing, as clearly shown in both Figs. 1 and 3. A bow-spring F, having each end fitting in a notch L in theinner edge of the bolts E,may be utilized for automatically returning the bolts to theirnormally extended position when pressure has been removed therefrom, and any suitable mechanism, such as tumblers, may be arranged within the casing for holding the bolts against retraction, which mechanism maybe operated through the keyhole G bya suitable key; but as the locking mechanism forms no especial part of my present invention I have neither shown the same nor entered into a detail description thereof. An outward movement of the locking-bolts may be limited by .the lugs H, arranged to come in contact with suitable shoulders I, formed within the casing. From this itwill be seen that when the hasp J is forced over the casin g it will first press inward the locking-bolts, so as to permit the passage of said casing through the slot in the hasp, after which the bolts will automatically spring outward and effectually prevent the Withdrawal of the hasp from the stud or casing without first forcing said bolts within the casing, as will be readily understood. When these bolts are prevented from being forced inward by suitable locking mechanism, it is obvious that the hasp may not be removed from the stud without first applying a key adapted to unlock this mechanism, thus releasing said bolts.

\Vhen my improvement is to be used in connection with a freight-car door, openings K may be formed in the locking-bolts, so as to permit the passage of a seal-wire, thereby sealing the hasp, so that should at any time it be tampered with the seal will indicate the fact, as is usual, and when such a method of securing the hasp is utilized the lock may or maynot be provided with locking mechanism, since the seal will serve the purpose of said mechanism.

Having thus fully described this invention, what is claimed as new and useful is In combination, a stud, a flat casing formed thereon, said casing having a rounded top, shoulders formed at each end of the bottom of the casing, triangular-shaped wings or bolts bow-spring having each end fitted in a notch pivoted at their tops within the casing, near the top and sides thereof so that the outer edge is normally tangent to the rounded top forming a continuous surface therewith, and the lower edge projects outward at an angle to the sides of the casing, said Wings or bolts having openings formed therethrough for the passage of seal-wires, lugs formed at the in ner and lower corners of the wings or bolts to fit against the shoulders on the bottom to limit the outward movement of said bolts, a

in the inner edge of the wings or bolts and pressing them normally outward, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES E. GROOK.

Vitnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMSON,

V. M. OoWELL. 

